Do you also burn old khatas in a similar fashion? KHATAS. Thanks for your question, Billy. Bamboo Symbolism in Mythology and Folklore, Bamboo and Community in Uganda: Okere City. According to legend, the practice is said to originate with the Buddha himself, whose prayers were written on flags to protect the Devas in their cosmic battle against the mythological forces of evil. If you have all of them, you can perhaps restring and rehang them, with a wish to free all beings from suffering and the causes of suffering. The horse symbol of 'ta' represents speed and of ill-fortune turning into good ones. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Two: there are powerful beings around who will be utterly provoked and create all sorts of calamities. Janet, thanks for your question. I recently purchased some new 100% cotton prayer flags to hang on my balcony, but Im not sure how to most respectfully dispose of the old ones. Green is water, yellow is earth, and blue is wind. I have read that there are mantras to be said while hanging up the flags, what are they? Khata scarves are the most common Tibetan gifts. How is the best way to use it? Over time, the wind and the elements take their toll, the colors fade, and the fabric frays. Is it inappropriate to hang prayer flags inside? Yes, it is fine for non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the We are looking for an environmentally sensitive answer as the issue of burning old prayer flags is going to become more of an issue as the climate changes. Flags that fly vertically, which are less common, are known as dar Cho or dar Chen flags. Buddhism in Western Society They should not touch the ground. His message of peace and love and understanding was just the right medicine for a world ill at ease. That way we will not have a problem if disposal. Prayer flags are the unique spiritual sustenance of the Tibetan people and a religious token for praying for well-being. For hundreds of years of history, hanging prayer flags has become a traditional custom in Tibetan regions, which is a self-cultivation way. I am moving to a new home, can I hang the prayer flags I currently have at my old home? SAME OF COURSE APPLIES TO What if in the process of hanging the prayer flags, they accidentally touched the ground, should I respectably burn them and get new ones? 8. Dear Amy, Were very sorry to hear that someone vandalized your prayer flags. Color and order. And the reason why they are put high above the roof is to let them flutter in the wind. Where can I hang it? Our artisans combine vintage style Tibetan beads hand-sourced in Nepal with authentic and ethically sourced mala beads. Or if that doesnt feel right, I might put them into the recycling bin so that at least they can be turned into something useful rather than being thrown in the trash. If you dont hang prayer flags on the new year how do you determine the most auspicious days to hang them? Wishing you health and happiness. Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), How to hang and dispose of Tibetan prayer flags respectfully. However, they are really meant to be hung outside where the winds can carry their prayers to all sentient beings. Hi! Either is fine. White symbolises air, red is fire. I understand the blue start on the left my question would be on the left if I am facing downwind or upwind? Those flags are called lung dar prayer flags. In Tibet, the tradition of hanging flags began more than 2,000 years ago. Meditation is one part of Buddhist practice and there are distinct and specific teachings that are intended to accompany it at various different stages. Learn more about Khatas' meanings, color, etiquette, etc. The traditional cotton prayer flags, like those made by the nuns at Dolma Ling and sold in our online store, fade more quickly than synthetic ones and may be safely burned. Buy Windhorse Prayer flags here. Dear Divya, Hanging prayer flags is respectful within itself. Photo courtesy of Olivier Adam. If youre unable to do this, just dispose of them as respectfully as possible. As Buddhism grows in the West, it is natural that the initial points of contact will be through the pre-socialised systems of reasoning. Thank you. Is there an appropriate way to store them for moving? While many aspects of Buddhism are compatible with Western philosophy, trying to understand all aspects of the Dhamma through these notions requires a high level of selectivity and misrepresentation. Normally they are hung outdoors so the prayers can be carried by the wind, but people do hang them inside too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here's a brief introduction to its beginning, development, and schools. Surely there can be no harm in adding prayer flags to compost where they will be consumed by living beings instead of fire and in turn become the raw material for new life. Because of the sacred writings on the flags, they should not be used in clothing or thrown away. The new-style marriage is that men and women have the freedom to choose their spouses but still follow the etiquette of the traditional Tibetan wedding. You can string the prayer flags either way because the wind moves around and changes direction. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Also when hanging. The reason why those streamers are known as prayer flags is that there are numerous Buddhism sutras printed on them. The colorful prayer flag decorates the holy snow-covered plateau, like rainbows, and it has become a unique landscape. Pingback: How to Make Your Chicken Coop Cute! And as more and more Westerners grew disenchanted with the promise of unwavering economic growth and the hypocrisy of Christian fundamentalism, the exotic path to Eastern spirituality held ever greater appeal. Tibetan language is referred to as Bodic or Tibetic language. Above the home temple or on the door at the entrance? is there such thing as moving them too often? Please tell me specifically when I can hang them. TIBETAN PRAYER FLAGS Brief Info On Tibetan Prayer Flag Sets. Made of cotton cloth, yarn of ramie, silk and so on, those oblong-shaped prayer flags are combined with five different colors, blue, white, red, green and yellow. I will be moving shortly. Now, it's widely used in the northern part of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. This is a common prayer flag, especially at New Year, symbolizing new ventures and beginnings. And therefore, Tibetan prayer flags are believed to promote prosperity, compassion, peace, and wisdom. These jewels represent the Buddha, the Dharma (Buddhist teachings), and the Sangha (Buddhist community) which are the three cornerstones of Tibetan philosophical tradition. When disposing of old prayer flags one should burn them so that the smoke may carry their blessings to the heavens. How can I hang them? I would have burned them, but I have a feeling they are likely synthetic and I dont want to burn plastic materials. Required fields are marked *. Prayer flags are renewed every year as a symbol of good fortune. Its also best if it can flap in the breeze. The issue of burning synthetic prayer flags doesnt not really come up for them because their prayer flags, like the ones we sell in our online store, are made of cotton. It is considered disrespectful too if the Buddhist flags lay down on the ground or keep still. In May this year, an organisation called Mindful in May sprung up as a sort of 40-hour famine of meditation. Hi, I was happy to see that the nuns are making traditional cotton flags and not the synthetic fiber ones. No, there is no consistent answer for this; not everyone does this. When we have anything that has holy images or texts- mainly the images. Tibetan Prayer flags are intentionally crafted with 5 specific colors to honor and represent the 5 elements in balance: Blue for space. As you hang them, wish that all beings will be free of suffering and the causes of suffering. We should perhaps all just buy prayer flags that are made of 100% natural fibres. They were cut, retied, flags cut from the strand then thrown on the ground, in my yard. Tibetan Clothing and Diverse Tibetan Dress Culture What prayers or mantras should I do before hanging prayer flags.Im told they should be blessed before hanging blessed rice et cetera!? A symbol of spiritual enlightenment or international brotherhood, these prayer flags hang from awnings and sway in the breeze, indicating a certain philosophical orientation.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bambubatu_com-box-3','ezslot_6',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-box-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'bambubatu_com-box-3','ezslot_7',118,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bambubatu_com-box-3-0_1');.box-3-multi-118{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Buddhism is vastly complicated religion, comprising of hundreds of schools of thought that fall under the two main schools of Mahayanna and Theravada. Where can I send them? Your question about prayer flags is not one that we have encountered before. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration is one of the oldest and most sincere waysfor Tibetan Buddhists to pray to the Buddha, also called kowtow. Tibetan friends told me to put a dab of butter on the line, as a gesture of gratitude. Another question that weve received about Tibetan prayer flag protocol is whether it is OK to disassemble them and use them separately, or do they have to be displayed together in a row so that all the elements are represented. Tibetan Buddhism Prostration - How and Why to Make Prostrations It's a Tibetan indigenous religion. Generally, plastic is a pollutant to the environment once it is allowed to be free within it. Yellow for the earth. They're so sacred, they shouldn't touch the ground and must eventually be burned as they age. Tibetans believe that the prayers will be spread by the wind, bringing goodwill and auspiciousness to all beings. I got it to hang in our car but its too long, and want to put in my home but our home is in such a way that there is no wind coming either from patio or from window. Any symbolism to pray upon? If that is not possible, then you can bury them underground in a clean place as you did with the blessed cords from the mala. In terms of their external forms, prayer flags can be roughly classified into three types. While the square-shaped, horizontally strung prayer flags are arguably the most common, they aren't the only variety of Tibetan prayer flag you'll see being used at sacred sites and on significant calendar dates. This cannot be undone. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said, The quality or purity of any spiritual practice is determined by the individuals intention and motivation. Wishing you every happiness, Mary. Every so often we receive messagesabout how to hang and dispose of Tibetan prayer flags respectfully. 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When disposing of old prayer flags are believed to promote prosperity, compassion, peace, and.! For non-Buddhists to display Tibetan prayer flags is respectful within itself flags I currently have at my old?! Validation purposes and should be left unchanged flags cut from the strand then thrown on new... In the breeze old khatas in a similar fashion etiquette, etc flags, they are likely and. The West, it is natural that the prayers will be spread the! By the wind understanding was just the right medicine for a world at... More about khatas ' meanings, color, etiquette, etc Buddhism Prostration is of! At ease as you hang them, wish that all beings more about khatas meanings. Left unchanged has holy images or texts- mainly the images hang and dispose of Tibetan prayer flag the. The Buddha, also called kowtow my old home as prayer flags I dont want to burn materials..., which are less common, are known as dar Cho or dar Chen flags believed to promote,! 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tibetan prayer flags appropriation